1990 Toyota Camry DX review from North America
"Sports car masquerading as family sedan, but be prepared for rust"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
There is a big rust problem, the passenger side rear door hinge has rusted through. Now if the door is opened it sags on the one good hinge. You must lift the door to close it.
There is lots of water entry into the trunk every time it rains.
The rack of the rack & pinion steering has died. I can steer it fine, but have no power steering.
There is a slight smoking and burning smell because there is a slight oil leak at the manifold gasket. My mechanic is keeping an eye on it.
Had to replace the transmission fluid pan gasket at 110000 miles. Leaked.
Left turn signal must be fiddled with to use. Buzzes when turned on.
Electrical system is going bad. Warning light for "lights" comes on and all the lights work. Sometimes indicator lights don't work. Dome light and buzzers work when they want to.
General comments?
Despite numerous body/electrical problems with age and wear, this car's drive train and suspension will not quit! It drive like a bat out of hell, and I can easily do 100mph on the highway. When I put good Italian sport tires on it the turn radius tightened up and it sticks to the road like glue.
The upholstery is worn and old, but is still much more comfortable than that found in newer cars. The suspension is smooth and cushions bumps well. AC & heat/defroster work great.
Recommended reviews
| 1990 - Camry DX 2.0, 4 cylinder. Reliable, generic, overall a mixed bag |
| 1989 - Camry Base Sedan 2.0L 16v Probably the best car Toyota ever built |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1990 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 104000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 158000 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Tercel |
| Date of Entry | 29th October, 2002 |